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If you raise rabbits or have access to rabbit pellets, you've found a nitrogen-rich, natural fertilizer for container plants. Rabbit manure is considered a "cold" manure, meaning it's unlikely to burn plants as it decomposes. It has little odor and the small, dry pellets are easy to spread and work with. You can spread it, add it directly to potting soil for container plants or make homemade potting soil with it. As with all animal manures, you do need to take certain precautions.

Top-Dressing

One of the simplest ways to add rabbit manure to a container garden is by spreading it on the soil around the plant. To top-dress container garden plants, spread no more than a 1/2- to 1-inch layer of rabbit pellets around the plants. Although rabbit manure is less likely to burn plants than other types of manures, it's a good idea to dry the rabbit manure before adding it. Make sure the pellets do not directly touch the plants. Always wash your hands thoroughly after touching any kind of manure.

Digging It

You can also add manure to commercial potting soil to improve fertility and drainage. For each pot, add a handful or two of rabbit manure to the potting soil. Combine the mixture thoroughly before filling the pots. Rabbit manure has more nitrogen than most other animal manures -- more than double the amount in cow and horse manure. Although the nitrogen is released slowly, don't overdo it. Excess nitrogen can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers.

In the Mix

If you'd like to make your own potting mix for container gardens, combine rabbit manure with used rabbit bedding, untreated grass clippings and other organic matter to make compost rather than adding the manure directly to the mix. Dr. George Dickerson at New Mexico State University Extension recommends adding some red wiggler worms to a bin containing rabbit manure and organic matter to make a high-quality compost. Allow the compost to age for at least three to six months. Combine this compost with top soil and sand in equal amounts.

Keep It Safe

Rabbit manure has many benefits over other types of manure. Because most rabbits are fed a commercial diet, their manure is less likely to contain weed seeds than the manures of cows and horses. Rabbit manure is also less likely to contain pathogens that can cause illness in people. But it's still a good idea to age rabbit manure for at least 120 days before applying it to containers that contain food crops to further reduce the risk of foodborne illness, advises Colorado State University Extension. Allow rabbit manure to age for four months if you plan to use it on food crops that make contact with soil such as carrots (Daucus carota) or lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata).

About the Author

Julie Christensen is a food writer, caterer, and mom-chef. She's the creator of MarmaladeMom.org, dedicated to family fun and delicious food, and released a book titled "More Than Pot Roast: Fast, Fresh Slow Cooker Recipes."